Gas-venting apparatus for oil tanks



@et 28, 1924 L w. s. Hur-F GAS VENTING APPARATUS FOR OIL TANKSI Filed March 2 1921 [Qty/ g- ATTORNEYS @at 28, 9% www@ vv. s, HUFF GAS VENTING APPARATUS FOR OIL TANKS Fild March k l2\. 23 2 Shasta-Smm 2 Patented ct. 28, 1924 'rsr WILSON SYLVESTER yHUF, OF OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA.

GAS-VENTING APPARATUS FOR OIL TANKS.

Appneation mea March 12, 1921. serial No. 451,87.

To all lwhom t 'may concern.'

Be it known that I, WILSON SYLvEsTnR HUFF, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Oklahoma City, in the county of' Oklahoma and State of Oklahoma,

Y have invented certain new and useful Im.- provements in Gas-Ventin Apparatus for O11 Tanks, of which the fol owing is a specification.

ll0 My invention relates to improvements in 15 vention is to provide means for preventing the accumulationof gas beneath the float- 1ng tanks or covers of large oil containers. A further object of the invention is to provide means in connection with gas venting means for `iioating tanks, for conductlng the gas to a suitable place Where it may be stored. v

A further object of the invention is to provide venting means for the floating covers of o1l tanks, of such constructions thataccumulations of gas may be ledoff in some instances, access beneath the floating tank y b e had in other instances, and other 4functlons performed in still other instances.`

Other objects and advantages will appear t in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which: i

Figure 1 is a sectionv illustrating thev simplest form of venting apparatus,

Figure 2 is a section illustrating a'slight modification wherein the off-take pipes are sand-jacketed,

Figure 3 is a vertical section kof a tank with its floating cover, illustrating how a plurality of the venting devices are connected to a common olf-take,

Figure 4 is a detail section illustrating a further modification of the venting device,

' in which a closure or tank, itself arranged to float, is employed in the stand-pipe,

Figure 5 is a detail sectional. view illustrating another modification of venting apparatus,

Figure 6 is al1-enlarged detail sectional view of a portion of the construction in Figure 5,

Figure 7 is a detail section of a modification wherein the wall ofthe floating tank is continued beyondthe bottom to act as a shield, instead of the flaring baiie in Figures -5 and 6,

Figure 8 is av detail sectional view of a vent, illustrating another type of closure,

Figure 9 is a detail view showing how a 60 plurality of stand pipes may be Vconnected to a common olf-take.

As indicated in the objects of the inven-- tion stated above, the principal purpose of the apparatus is to provide means of egress for gas accumulating beneath the floating tank or cover 1 of a large oil tank or container 2, su'ch as illustrated in' Figure 3. The vent'or stand-pipe, by means of which the major function of the invention is accomplished,AL takes different forms because there are instances when the vent is not. designed to be used as such, but for the purpose of merely gaining acces/s beneath the floating tank. The various forms of the invention are described in detail:

The form in Figure 1, illustrates the stand-pipe or vent 3 as being Awelded in place around an opening in the tank 1, a screen 41 being placed in the bottom so as to support the filling of sand 5. The standpipc is described as being welded in place, but it may be riveted or otherwise secured in position. The sand filling prevents fire from accidentally/entering the main tank. It also acts as a gas filter.-

At the upper end of the stand-pipe 3 there is a pipe fitting 6, into which a branch pipe 7 is screwed. There is a number' of such stand pipes 3, as shown in Fig. 3, and each of these has a similar fitting all of which discharge into a common off-take 8 as shown in Figure 3. The common off-take 8 1s composed of a series of jointed pipes, the joints being of any suitable. construction which permits up'and down movement but at the'same time prevents the escape of` gas. The olf-take pipe may consist of a flexible pipe laid in -the shape of a spiral.

A iacket 9 `surrounds the stand-pipe 3,

j the tank 1. This layer of sand also is a medium for keeping the oil cool. i 1 10 i the intermediate space being filled with sand v branch pipes 7a The form in Figure 2, is practically the same as that shown in Figure 1, the difference being that the jacket 9 continues in a jacket 12 around the branch pipes 7a. The are shown as diverging in Figure 2. This is intended to illustrate how indicated by like numerals with the expo-- nent a, for example, the stand-pipe 3 carries the T 6a, etc. In both cases, 9, 9a is simply stood around the stand-pipe with preferably no connection to the floating tank.

The form in Figure 4, illustrates a very much larger standfpipe 13. This `form of i stand-pipe is not used for the conduction of gas,as is the case in Figures 1 and 2, but solely for the purpose of providing an opening through which entrance may be had be-v neath the floating tank 1". The stand-pipe 13 is so large that .closure means such as 1n Figure 1 cannot be conveniently used; a small floating tank 14 is employed instead.

The space between this floating vtank and the stand-pipe is vclosed by joint-forming means comprising the flexible sheet 15, sesuredto the floating tank, shaped to form a pocket for holding sand 16. The joint forming means is the same as that generally l indicated around the floating tank 1 in Figure 3, other details of construction being more fully disclosed in my co-pendng application for Letters latent on fire-proof tanks, filed July 21, 1919, Serial No. 312,188.

A lid 17 covers the stand-pipe 13. This lid is easily removable when it is desired to get inside ofthe stand-pipe. Other construction shown in connection with the standpipe 13 is in accordance with a co-pending patent application, but scribed as consisting of a surrounding wall 18 which defines a central drain area 19 into which a plurality of drain pipes 20 from various parts of the floating tank, discharge. A telescopic drain pipe 21 is the common outlet of the drain area.

The form in Figure 5, is more elaborate than any described above, in that additional precautions are taken to prevent any possible escape of gas around the floating tank 1. A downwardly flaring baffle 22 is welded or otherwise secured to the floating tank, and adjacent its upper edge is riveted or otherwise secured 'a plurality of bars 23, themselves secured to the flexible sheet 24:

the jacket may be briefly de` which constitutes the /j'oint forming means between the floating and stationary tanks. As

before, this sheet forms a pocket which contains sand for the purpose of pressing the free side of the sheet against the wall of the outer container.

Such gas as it caught by the flaring baffle 22 is directed leads off' to any lsuitable kind of discharge such as suggested by the offtake 8 in Fig. 3. T he baffle 22 is annular, and there may be as many of the vent pipes 25 as may be vdeemed expedient. The jacket 26, ending either with the top of the floating tank or extending along the horizontal portion of the vent pipe 25, has a filling of sand 27 for protecting the pipe from the heat of fire should one occur. A Each of the bars 23 extends beyond the baille 22, then constituting a vflexible bracket intothe vent pipe 25 which sou 28 on which a plurality of deflector plates 29 are loosely hung. These plates direct any gas which may tend to escape toward the outside of the container 2, toward the center where the flowing baflle 22 will catch and direct it into the vent pipes 25. The outer ends of the deflector plate 29 'are curved to prevent them from catching on any obstruction on the wall of the container.

Should it so happen that one of the plates 29 catches on any obstruction on the container, so as to tend to retard the downward movement of the floating tank, the bracket 28, which is flexible, will give inwardlyy so that the bar 30, with which each plate is supplied, will bear tightly against the bottom ofA the floating tank and serve to swing the free end of the deflector plate away from the obstruction. It is to be observed that the deflector plates 29 are in overlappingarrangement so that they may act in-l dependently of each other.

The form in Figure 7, illustratesl a modification wherein the baffle 22 is dispensed with, the floating tank extending down beneath the bottom so as to form a shield 31, which accomplishes the same purpose as thebaffle. extends directly through the bottom so as to be in communication with the space inside of the shield.

The form in Figure 8 illustrates an arrangement wherein the stand-pipe 33 is used Jfor a purpose other than the venting of gas. lt is permanently welded in position over an opening in tends as high tank. attached thereto.

The bag may be made .of screen or any 'other material of sufficient flexibility to permit the sand to press itssides into contact with the stand-pipe and thus form a good closure. This form of the invention is used principally as a hand-hole through the floatthe floating tank 1d. It exas the wall of the floating The cover 34 has a bag 35 of sand 36 ico In this instance, the vent pipe 32 ing tank for the purpose of removing samples of oil, testing the depth of the sediment at the bottom of the main tank, etc. Upon briefly reviewing the various forms of the invention herein disclosed, the reader will observe that the fundamental provision is that of a vent pipe for the floating tank or cover of a large oil container.

This vent pipe ismade to suit various purposes: When made relatively small as in Figure l, it is used solely as a conduit for accumulated gas. When made a little larger as in Figure 8, it is used as a hand-hole through which a sounding line, etc., may be introduced. When made still larger, as in Figure 4, complete access beneath the floating tank may be had for such purposes as making repairs, etc. Incidentally, means is provided in connection with any one of the gas venting arrangements, for directing the gas toward the vent and thus prevents its escaping around the sides of the floating tank. Such means is shown in connection with Figure 5.

While the construction and arrangement of the improved gas venting apparatus herein describedand claimed, is that of a generally preferred form, obviously modiiications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim: l

l. In a container, a ioating tank cover-j'. ing the liquid in the container, a pipe ex" tending through the floating tank into communication with the liquid, and a bale for directing gas into said pipe to prevent its accumulation beneath the floating tank.

2. In a container, a floating tank covering the liquid in the container, a pipe extending through the floating tank into communication with the liquid, and a batlie for directing gas into the pipe, extending around the periphery to prevent its escape upward.

3. In a container, a floating tank covering the liquid in the container, a pipe extending through the ioating tank into communication with the liquid, a batlie for directing gas into the pipe, extending around the periphery to prevent its escape upward, and means extending between said baiiie and container wall for deflecting gas toward th center to be. caught by said bale.

4. The combination of a floating tank, joint-forming means extending around said tank, avent pipe in communicationwith the. liquid beneath said tank, and means suspended from said joint-forming means for vdirecting gas into the vent ipe and preventing accumulation beneath sald tank. j

5. A container, includi/ng a oating tank covering the liquid therein, means forming a joint between the floating tank and container walls, means providing an escape for gas from beneath the .oating tank, means close to said venting means for directing the gas thereinto, associated means extending into contact with the container walls for deiiecting gas toward the center and preventing its escape around the joint-forming means, and means pendant from said jointforming means providing a common support for said directing and defiecting means.

6. A container, including a floating tank covering the liquid therein, means forming a tight joint between the floating tank and container walls, means providing an escape for gas from beneath the floating tank, means close to said venting means for directing the gas thereinto, associated means extending into contact with the'container walls for deflecting gas toward the center and preventing its escape around the j oint-forming means, means pendant from said jointforming means providing a common support for said directing and delecting means, and means associated with said deiecting means lenabling the latter to release itself from an obstruction on the container wall.

7. A container, a floating tank covering the liquid therein, joint-forming means betweenthe tank and container walls, a vent pipe communicating with the liquid beneath thev tank, a balile around the floating tank for directing gas into the vent pipe, a plurality of deflector plates in overlapping arrangement, with curved ends contacting the container wall, preventing gas escaping around the joint-formin means; means suspended from said jointorming means, providing `a common support for the bae and. said plates; and means carried by said plates, including curved bars, extending into contact with the iioating tank for releasing the ends of the plate from an obstruction on the container wall, the adjacent portion of said suspending means being flexible to aid said function.

- 8. An oil container, a iioating tank covering the oil, a pipe communicating with the oil for conducting gasv from beneath the Heating tank, a connection between said pipe and a point of discharge outside of the container, an insulating jacket for predetermined portions of said pipe, filtering means contained by said pipe, and means preventing the filtering means from dropping into the oil.

wILsoN .sYLvEsTER HUFF. 

